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remembering ny today

I was looking through some photo albums today from some trips to New York, remembering.

The beams of one of the towers that left a cross standing (2003), that will now be featured in the museum.

And the beautiful memorial that stands now, with the waterfalls that drown out the noise of the city and represent the void and loss of life of that day.

And the survivor tree ~ “it was found in October 2001, the tree with lifeless limbs, snapped roots and blackened trunk was discovered and freed from the piles of smoldering rubble in the plaza of the World Trade Center.” They nursed it back to health and brought it back to the memorial.

I especially love St. Paul’s Cathedral across the street.

It was a sanctuary for all the workers at the site, and it is a miracle that the church survived without even a broken window, especially when you look at the buildings around it. Many attribute this to a miracle sycamore tree:

"This stump is all that remains of a 100 -year-old Sycamore that once stood in the northwest corner of St. Paul's churchyard. The tree was toppled on September 11th, 2001, when the collapse of the World Trade Center sent tons of debris hurtling towards the church, including a large steel beam from the North Tower. Miraculously, the Chapel's trees shielded from dam and not a single pane of glass was broken through the church."

"In 2005, renowned sculptor Steve Tobin worked with tree experts to preserve the original Sycamore stump that you see here at St. Paul's." It is now going to be part of the upcoming 9/11 museum.

It also houses George Washington’s pew, with

and an 18th century painting of the Great Seal of the United States.

It is such a special place…one of my favorite spots in New York.

I wanted to share George Washington’s Prayer for the United States of America, which I think is especially poignant for today:

On a plaque in St. Paul ’s chapel in New York City:

Almighty God,

We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection; and Thou wilt incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field.

And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.